High Cholesterol

What is high cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance in your blood that supports vitamin D and hormone production and aids digestion. Cholesterol attaches to proteins to travel through your bloodstream, forming a structure known as a lipoprotein.

High cholesterol develops when your body makes more cholesterol than it needs. Excessive amounts of cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

There are several types of cholesterol, including:

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

HDL cholesterol is known as a good cholesterol because it circulates in your bloodstream, collecting excess cholesterol. It carries it back to your liver for elimination as waste.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

LDL cholesterol is considered a bad cholesterol because it can harden into a plaque and build up on the walls of your arteries. Plaque buildup narrows the vessels and can limit blood flow, a condition known as atherosclerosis.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood. High triglyceride levels can lower HDL cholesterol levels and increase risk factors for atherosclerosis.

Fusion Primary Care and Wellness provides comprehensive care for high cholesterol in adults. The experienced physicians offer cholesterol screenings onsite and customize care plans to lower your LDL cholesterol levels.

What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?

You can have high cholesterol for years without any symptoms. For this reason, routine cholesterol screenings should be a part of your preventive care plan.

The Fusion Primary Care and Wellness team recommends cholesterol screenings every one to two years for men aged 45 and over and women aged 55 and over. You may also need screenings sooner if you have risk factors for high cholesterol, such as obesity, poor diet, history of smoking, or a sedentary lifestyle.

Cholesterol screenings involve simple, in-office blood tests that allow the team to measure your HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels.

How is high cholesterol treated?

Your initial treatment for high cholesterol may involve lifestyle modifications to lower your cholesterol levels naturally. Modifications might include following a heart-healthy diet that features fresh fruits and vegetables and foods low in saturated and trans fats.

Other lifestyle changes you should make to manage your cholesterol levels include:

• Quitting smoking
• Limiting alcohol intake
• Getting daily exercise
• Losing weight

If these strategies aren’t working well, the Fusion Primary Care and Wellness team can prescribe medications like statins to lower your LDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels and increase your HDL cholesterol.

Call Fusion Primary Care and Wellness today to learn more about the available treatments for high cholesterol, or request an appointment online.